hiereus

Semantic range

1. 1one who offers sacrifice
2. 2a member of the priestly order
3. 3in Revelation and 1 Peter: the whole covenant people

The New Testament never calls a Christian minister a hiereus. Elders, overseers and servants (presbyteroi, episkopoi, diakonoi) lead the congregations; the sacrificing priest of the New Testament is Christ, and derivatively the whole body of believers — "a royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9), "kings and priests unto God" (Revelation 1:6).

The Restoration recovers priesthood as an authority conferred on ordinary members rather than a clerical caste. D&C 84:33–39 gives the oath and covenant of the priesthood; the Church has no paid local clergy; and the temple endowment extends priesthood blessings and covenants to women and men alike — a point President Russell M. Nelson has taught repeatedly.

See also

• כֹּהֵןkōhēn
• מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶקmalkî-ṣedeq
• ἐξουσίαexousia